Tens of thousands of dockworkers on the East Coast have reaffirmed their intention to strike when their current contract with port employers expires at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) stated on Sunday that pickets will be set up on October 1st at ports stretching from Maine to Texas. This job action will directly involve 25,000 workers in container and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) services.

The union accused the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents terminal operators and ocean carriers, of refusing to address "a half-century of wage subjugation where Ocean Carriers' profits skyrocketed from millions to mega-billion dollars, while ILA wages remained flat." Reports indicate the union is seeking a pay increase of up to 70% over the six-year term of a new contract. For comparison, the International Longshoremen’s and Warehouse Union, representing West Coast dockworkers, negotiated wage increases of approximately 32% in 2023.

A strike would impact ports that handle $92 billion, or two-thirds, of U.S. trade. This includes halting container handling at the Port of New York-New Jersey, the nation's second-busiest container hub, and disrupting car and truck imports into Baltimore, a leading gateway for vehicle imports.

The USMX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

President Biden, who has been actively seeking union support for the upcoming general election, stated he would not block the strike. The Taft-Hartley Act grants the President the authority to intervene and mandate a cooling-off period.